Balloon Flower

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Botanical name: Platycodon grandiflorus
Family Classification: Campanulaceae Family

How To Plant you balloon flowers

Propagate by seed, division or separation. Balloon flower plants take a few years to become established and do not tolerate division well. When necessary, divide early in the spring when the plants are no more than 3 to 4 inches tall. Some variations bloom from seed the first year.

Maintenance and Care

Tall varieties may need to be staked. Divide only when the clump becomes overcrowded. This is truly a low maintenance plant that is long-lived and blooms reliably. Since it is one of the last perennials to emerge in the spring, mark its position and take care not to damage it before it emerges.

Varieties

There are many varieties here are some of the highlights:

• Apoyama – a 10- to 15-inch-tall dwarf with upright habit and violet flowers.
• Fuji – pink, white, blue blossoms on 2- to 3-foot plants. best for cut flowers.
• Komachi – clear blue flowers and the bud swells to about 2 inches in diameter but never opens.
• Sentimental blue – only 6 to 9 inches tall with blue flowers from seed the first year.

Site Characteristics

This beautiful flower prefers full sun in cool areas, however when summers are hot they will develop better in part shade.

Plant Traits

Generally these flowers will grow to 2.5 to 3.5 feet, however some dwarf varieties grow just 6 inches tall! The tall varieties tend to be upright and proud whilst the dwarf flowers are a bit more rounded.

Special Considerations

As per their name the buds of the balloon flower swell up like balloons and pop when squeezed.